Handling Issues Hinder Harvick In Michigan

Kevin Harvick entered the Michigan International Speedway hoping for a solid run for his Shell-Pennzoil team. With a strong qualifying run on Friday the team was optimistic for Sunday's running of the LifeLock 400. However, handling issues plagued the Shell-Pennzoil driver for much of the 200-lap event relegating him to a 18th-place finish.

After starting in the 12th position, Harvick settled in for 200 laps of racing action. Ten laps into the 400-mile race the 2009 Budweiser Shootout winner reported that his car was a little tight in the center but loose off the corner.

With long green-flag runs, Harvick made his first trip to pit road during a green-flag pit sequence on lap 40. After receiving tires and fuel along with an air pressure and track bar adjustment Harvick returned to the track to resume green-flag racing. After the stops cycled out the Bakersfield, California native was posted in the 16th position.

As the race continued under green-flag conditions, the handling on the No. 29 Shell-Pennzoil Chevy began to get worse with Harvick reporting he was loose in the corner now. By lap 52 the Shell-Pennzoil driver radioed to crew chief Gil Martin that it felt like his left rear tire was flat.

After determining there wasn't a problem with the tire, the two-time Nationwide Series champion remained in the top-20 and was running in the 19th position when the first caution flag waved on lap 72. Martin brought his driver back down the pit lane and put the tire pressure back along with adjustments on the track bar. Harvick returned to the track for the restart taking the green flag in the 17th position.

Lap 115 saw a second round of green-flag pit stops with Harvick coming in for service on lap 117. After receiving tires, fuel and additional adjustments, the Shell-Pennzoil driver returned to racing only to have the second caution flag wave on lap 121. Another trip to pit road under the caution gave the 33-year-old four fresh Goodyear tires, fuel and adjustments before resuming the race on lap 125.

On lap 145 Harvick radioed back to the Shell-Pennzoil crew saying the car felt like a different car. By lap 149 when the third caution flag waved Harvick had worked his way into the top-15 and was running in the 13th spot. With another trip to pit road and a great pit stop by the Shell-Pennzoil team Harvick was sitting just outside the top-10 in the 11th position for the restart on lap 156.

In the closing laps of the race the handling on the No. 29 Shell-Pennzoil Chevy went away again and Harvick began to drop back in the field. By lap 175 he found himself in the 19th position fighting to stay in the top-20. The Shell-Pennzoil driver was able to remain in the 18th position where he took the checkered flag.

Despite his 18th-place finish Harvick moved up three spots in the point standings and now sits in the 23rd position.
Mark Martin won the LifeLock 400 with Jeff Gordon finishing second. Denny Hamlin, Carl Edwards and Greg Biffle rounded out the top-five.
Next up for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series is the running of the Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, California.

Live television coverage begins on Sunday, June 21, 2009 at 4:30 p.m. (ET) on TNT.  The event will also be broadcast live on PRN (Performance Racing Network) and Sirius Satellite Radio with coverage beginning at 4:00 p.m. (ET).